For research to have impact in the real world, it needs to find an audience beyond research conferences and academic papers. Pint of Science gives EMCRs and those working in the field the opportunity to do just that, and this year our very own Hermann’s Bar in Camperdown will host three nights of the festival in May. University of Sydney researchers not only have home ground advantage to communicate their science to the general public, but benefit from Dr Madi Ainsworth, a postdoctoral researcher with the Faculty of Medicine and Health, being a city coordinator. 

Drawn to the event as a member of the audience for the past 10 years, Dr Ainsworth stepped into a volunteer role to help run it last year. She says the event is an excellent low-stakes opportunity for our researchers to gain experience with the way they speak about their topic, and to have fun while doing it. 

“The energy is unlike anything else, even as a scientist,” says Ainsworth. “It’s such a low-pressure environment, and you get to learn something new about a field you may never have thought about before. It’s incredibly inspiring and gives you insight into other areas of science.”

For researchers, developing the skill to present your work in the community is invaluable, and Pint of Science provides a supportive environment to start building your exposure. “The fact that it happens in a casual setting like a pub really breaks down that barrier people can feel around science, where they think it’s too complicated to understand,” says Dr Ainsworth. “This event is really about delivering science to the general public. It’s not about discussing fine technical detail in the way a conference might. It’s about community engagement and giving researchers the opportunity to share their science in more accessible, everyday language.”

Researchers are encouraged to submit expressions of interest until the end of March 2026 for 15-20 minute talks on the following themes:

• Atoms to Galaxies: physics, chemistry, maths and astronomy
• The Mind: neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry
• The Body: medicine, human biology and health
• Society: law, history, politics, policy and languages
• Planet Earth: geosciences, botany and zoology
• Technology: biotechnology, robotics, computers and AI

When it comes to engagement, Dr Ainsworth says, “the most memorable talks are the ones where the speaker really draws the audience in rather than just talking at them. The best presenters help the audience understand something on a deeper level, ask interactive questions, and spark discussion or debate. That’s not always practical for every topic, of course, but it makes a big difference.”

The benefits to researchers extend beyond the CV (though this is of course a good thing to have on it). “Beyond that, there’s a really strong sense of community around Pint of Science,” says Dr Ainsworth. “I think speakers get a lot of satisfaction from seeing non-scientists become excited about their work. Researchers can become quite siloed, and a lot of their communication happens only at conferences, which may be quite infrequent. So being able to share your work with an enthusiastic public audience feels really rewarding. Last year, speakers also told me they enjoyed meeting the other speakers and building networks with researchers across Sydney.”

The Pint of Science Festival will take place 18-20 May 2026.